[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the City of Bordentown 4-21-1959; amended in its entirety 3-13-1995 by Ord. No. 1995-5.
Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Parks and recreation — See Ch. 206.
The purpose of this chapter shall be to:
A.Â
Protect the general health, safety and welfare of
the local residents and visitors to the City boat ramp.
B.Â
Protect the City ramp, ramp area and parking lot.
C.Â
Promote and provide a source of safe boating recreation
access and to provide for an orderly procedure for the use of the
ramp and ramp area by boaters and visitors alike.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
The individual or individuals employed by the City of Bordentown
to oversee the boat ramp and beach area and who shall have full powers
to issue violations and enforce the provisions of this chapter.
[Added 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09]
All motorized or nonmotorized watercraft or vessels with
a rigid hull, including all jet skis, waverunners, and similar vehicles.
[Amended 10-17-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-09]
A person owning a valid New Jersey driver’s license
which lists upon it the applicant’s name and an address located
within the municipal boundaries of those municipalities participating
in the Community Education Recreation Program Agreement dated July
1, 1982, which now include the City of Bordentown, Bordentown Township,
any person primarily employed by those municipalities, any members
of the Bordentown Yacht Club or Yapewi Aquatic Club and any taxpayer
of the City of Bordentown.
[Amended 9-9-1996 by Ord. No. 1996-13; 6-8-2009 by Ord. No.
2009-08]
A person owning a valid New Jersey driver's license which
lists upon it the applicant's name and an address located within the
State of New Jersey.
All other applicants that are neither local residents or
New Jersey State residents as defined herein.[1]
A concrete ramp used for boat ingress and egress, as well
as the portable wooden dock placed thereon during periods of use.
[1]
Editor’s Note: The former definition of "Public Officer,"
which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 7-9-2012
by Ord. No. 2012-09. See now the definition of "Beach Master."
[Added 10-17-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-09]
No person shall be permitted to use the boat
ramp or designated "trailer parking only" area without applying for
and obtaining a permit from the City of Bordentown at the Municipal
Offices, Police Department, 324 Farnsworth Avenue. Permits are required
for each trailer or conveyance and for each boat, whether or not more
than one boat is carried on a single trailer or conveyance. Applicants
for a permit must provide proof of a valid registration for each boat
and trailer, if applicable. Permit decals shall be affixed to each
boat and each trailer or other conveyance. Issuance of permits shall
be at the sole discretion of the City. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
no permits shall be required for nonmotorized inflatable boats, canoes
or kayaks.
[Amended 10-17-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-09]
Valid permits that have been torn or damaged may be replaced,
provided that the registration number is visible and readable, by
presenting the torn or damaged permit to the City of Bordentown Municipal
Offices, Police Department, and paying the replacement permit fee
as established by the Board of Commissioners, which shall be not less
than $5.
[Amended 10-17-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-09; 4-8-2013 by Ord. No.
2013-06; 5-10-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-11]
Permits shall allow the holder to use the boat
ramp and designated trailer parking area for the period for which
the permit is issued. Permits are required from April 1 through November
1 each year. The boat ramp and designated parking area shall, nevertheless,
be closed to all boats, trailers and vehicles between the hours of
10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. daily. The Board of Commissioners may authorize
the issuance of and set fee for daily, weekly, monthly and/or annual
permits.
[Amended 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09; 5-10-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-11]
A.Â
Upon receiving a permit from the City, permit decals
shall be conspicuously and permanently affixed to both the left front
of the boat trailer and the side of the boat at the port bow. If no
trailer is used to launch the boat, then the decal shall be conspicuously
located on the side of the boat itself at the port bow.
B.Â
No person shall park a vehicle which is not connected
to a trailer in the areas designated for trailer parking only.
C.Â
Parking shall be prohibited in the ramp parking lot
during those hours that the ramp is closed to the public. Parking
shall be prohibited on Park Street from Prince Street past the train
trestle bridge on the hill leading down to the river.
D.Â
All persons using the boat ramp and ramp parking lot
shall obey all signs posted relative to parking and ramp use.
E.Â
The Police Department, Beach Master or Supervisor
of Public Works shall be empowered to cause any vehicle parked in
violation of these provisions to be towed away at the owner's expense.
A.Â
Boat restrictions; ingress and egress.
[Amended 9-9-1996 by Ord. No. 1996-13; 7-9-2012 by Ord. No.
2012-09; 5-10-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-11]
(1)Â
Mooring of boats shall not be permitted in any area of the boat ramp
or adjacent park other than to the floating dock. Additionally, no
boat or watercraft shall be beached in any part of the boat ramp area.
The only exception would be for a personal watercraft breached for
the express purpose of removing it from the water via the ramp, and
only for such length of time it takes to reasonably do so.
(2)Â
Boats and personal watercraft may only be launched in the designated
ramp area.
(3)Â
No boat or personal watercraft shall be permitted to be tied to the
municipal ramp or ramp area for a period in excess of 10 minutes.
No boats shall use the municipal ramp or beach area for picking up
or discharging passengers. The only use of the ramp shall be for launching
and retrieving boats and personal watercraft.
(4)Â
It shall be unlawful to obstruct the use of the ramp and ingress
or egress to the ramp, either from the parking area or from the water.
(5)Â
Persons waiting to launch from the ramp, and to exit the water, shall
proceed in an orderly, single-file manner.
(6)Â
Boats passing within the vicinity of the ramp shall do so at slow
speed so as to prevent the creation of wakes which may endanger the
safety and welfare of the public or the property in the boat ramp
area. No boat shall travel along the Crosswicks Creek within the City
boundaries up to the light-rail trestle bridge at a speed greater
than six miles per hour. Boats making wakes shall be subject to enforcement
efforts from the City and state enforcement authorities.
(7)Â
No boat shall be launched from a vehicle on the ramp which is not
trailered; i.e., boats cannot be launched from the bed, roof or other
section of a vehicle directly into the water. A properly permitted
boat of appropriate weight and size may be manually transported to
and launched from the ramp if said launching can be accomplished in
a safe manner, which does not endanger the welfare of either those
launching the boat or other persons using the ramp and ramp area.
The determination of whether said launching can be safely accomplished
rests solely with the City, and all decisions in this regard shall
be final.
B.Â
Regulations.
(1)Â
Boat and trailer regulations. All boats and trailers
using the municipal facilities must have valid registrations and any
and all other state and federal permits that may be required.
(2)Â
Vehicle repair. There shall be no repairing or maintenance,
other than those necessitated by emergency, of vehicles, boats or
trailers, in or around the ramp and the parking area.
(3)Â
Loitering and/or fishing. There shall be no congregating
or fishing allowed on the ramp area. All individuals shall follow
the orders and directions of the Beach Master as to appropriate locations.
[Amended 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09]
(4)Â
Swimming. There shall be no swimming in the entire
municipal ramp area at any time.
(5)Â
Alcoholic beverages. No alcoholic beverages shall
be possessed or consumed in the municipal parking lot, on the boat
ramp or in vehicles utilizing same.
[Amended 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09]
(6)Â
No bicycles, scooters, skateboards, roller blades
or other similar devices shall be permitted in the ramp and dock area
at any time.
[Amended 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09]
(7)Â
Removal of fire hazards. Any conditions about or around
a boat declared to be a fire hazard in the judgment of the Fire Official,
Chief of the Fire Department or Assistant Chief shall be removed by
the owner or person in charge of such.
(8)Â
Waste oil products. Waste oil shall not be deposited
or disposed of into the waters of any stall or slip nor into the waters
adjacent thereto or any municipal trash receptacle. All such products
shall be removed from site in appropriate and approved containers
and disposed of in accordance to state law or regulations.
[Amended 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09]
(9)Â
No cooking or barbecues shall be allowed in the municipal
parking lot or boat ramp area other than those areas specifically
designated for same.
(10)Â
Any and all litter generated by anyone using
the municipal parking lot shall be completely removed and properly
disposed of by said persons prior to leaving the area.
(11)Â
While in the boat ramp and dock area, all persons age 12 and
under shall wear a fitted and secured life vest, life jacket or personal
flotation device (PFD) and be in the company of a person age 18 or
over who shall take full responsibility for the minor child(ren).
The life vest must carry a manufacturer imprint that it is a Type
I PFD (off-shore), Type II PFD (near-shore buoyancy aid) or Type III
PFD (flotation aid).
[Added 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09]
(12)Â
All individuals shall follow the instructions, orders and directions
of the Beach Master and all signs providing rules and regulation or
directions for the safe use and operation of the ramp and surrounding
areas.
[Added 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09]
All persons using the City boat launching ramp
shall do so at their own risk. The City assumes no responsibility
for theft, loss or damage to any boats or motor vehicles, or any equipment
used in connection with them, or any personal injury that may occur
to any person while using the municipal ramp or parking area in any
fashion.
A.Â
Any person who violates any one or more of the provisions
of this chapter shall be subject to a fine of not less than $100 nor
more than $500 and/or a period of imprisonment not to exceed 30 days
and/or a period of community service not to exceed 200 hours, or any
combination thereof, for a first offense. For a second or subsequent
offense, a violator shall be subject to a fine of not less than $250
nor more than $1,000 and/or a period of imprisonment not to exceed
60 days and/or to a period of community service not to exceed 60 hours
or any combination thereof, and the City may, in its discretion, terminate
that person's permit for the calendar year, and, in the case of willful
violations, may permanently bar that person from the use of the boat
ramp and municipal parking lot area adjacent thereto. In the case
of a continuing violation or violations, such penalties may be assessed
for each day that the violation or violations continue unabated, until
such time as the violation or violations are corrected. A separate
offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a
violation occurs or continues.
B.Â
The provisions of this chapter may be enforced by
the Beach Master designated by the City, the Police Department, the
Supervisor of Public Works or the State Marine Police, where applicable.
[Amended 7-9-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-09]
